Parattah, Tasmania
Encyclopedia
Parattah is a small township in Tasmania
, located about 6 kilometres (4 mi) southeast of the town of Oatlands
. At the 2006 census
, Parattah had a population of 105.
While not populated as such, the area is home to about 30 families, and contains a farmhouse which was once home to Hudson Fysh
, one of the founders of Qantas
, and a historic railway station. Parattah was once known as Parattah Junction due to the former Oatlands Railway
which branched off towards Oatlands from this area. A few abandoned sidings, as well as a short track for reversing the direction of locomotives and a large industrial loading crane are still on site and easily accessible from the road. A local organisation is attempting to restore the railway which once ran through the district. The main street contains a number of attractive dwellings dating from the town's heyday, some of which are currently undergoing restoration. The village retains the original general store, the impressive Tudor style 'Parratah Hotel' and a number of historic churches. It is well worth the short side trip from Oatlands to enjoy the town. A picnic area is available adjacent to the old rail station.
serving the township opened 1 June 1879 and was named Oatlands Station; the post office was renamed Parattah with effect from 1 January 1882 and was located at the railway station until 8 January 1914. The postmistress from 1946 to 1966 was Mrs. Mary Fisher; she was succeeded by her daughter, Miss Vera Fisher, who retired in March 1977 and who claimed as an ancestor the postal reformer Sir Rowland Hill
.
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, located about 6 kilometres (4 mi) southeast of the town of Oatlands
Oatlands, Tasmania
Oatlands is an important historical village built on the shores of Lake Dulverton in the centre of Tasmania, Australia. Oatlands is located 84 km north of Hobart and 115 km south of Launceston on the Midland Highway...
. At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Parattah had a population of 105.
While not populated as such, the area is home to about 30 families, and contains a farmhouse which was once home to Hudson Fysh
Hudson Fysh
Sir Wilmot Hudson Fysh KBE, DFC was an Australian aviator and businessman. A founder of the Australian airline company Qantas, Fysh was born in Launceston, Tasmania. Serving in the Battle of Gallipoli and Palestine Campaign as a lieutenant of the Australian Light Horse Brigade, Fysh later became...
, one of the founders of Qantas
Qantas
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
, and a historic railway station. Parattah was once known as Parattah Junction due to the former Oatlands Railway
Oatlands Railway
The Oatlands Railway was a short branch of the Main Line from Launceston to Hobart in Tasmania, which was built to give rail access to the town of Oatlands...
which branched off towards Oatlands from this area. A few abandoned sidings, as well as a short track for reversing the direction of locomotives and a large industrial loading crane are still on site and easily accessible from the road. A local organisation is attempting to restore the railway which once ran through the district. The main street contains a number of attractive dwellings dating from the town's heyday, some of which are currently undergoing restoration. The village retains the original general store, the impressive Tudor style 'Parratah Hotel' and a number of historic churches. It is well worth the short side trip from Oatlands to enjoy the town. A picnic area is available adjacent to the old rail station.
History
The first post officePost office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
serving the township opened 1 June 1879 and was named Oatlands Station; the post office was renamed Parattah with effect from 1 January 1882 and was located at the railway station until 8 January 1914. The postmistress from 1946 to 1966 was Mrs. Mary Fisher; she was succeeded by her daughter, Miss Vera Fisher, who retired in March 1977 and who claimed as an ancestor the postal reformer Sir Rowland Hill
Rowland Hill (postal reformer)
Sir Rowland Hill KCB, FRS was an English teacher, inventor and social reformer. He campaigned for a comprehensive reform of the postal system, based on the concept of penny postage and his solution of prepayment, facilitating the safe, speedy and cheap transfer of letters...
.